You should visit your health care provider from time to time, even if you are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

Screen for medical issues

Assess your risk for future medical problems

Encourage a healthy lifestyle

Update vaccinations

Help you get to know your provider in case of an illness

Information

Even if you feel fine, you should still see your provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol levels also may not have any symptoms in the early stages. A simple blood test can check for these conditions.

High blood pressure

Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...

High cholesterol

There are specific times when you should see your provider. Below are screening guidelines for women over age 65.

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

Have your blood pressure checked every year. If the top number (systolic number) is between 120 and 139 or the bottom number (diastolic number) is between 80 and 89 mm Hg or higher, have it checked every year.

If the top number is greater than 140, or the bottom number is greater than 90, schedule an appointment with your provider.

If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be checked more often.

Watch for blood pressure screenings in your area. Ask your provider if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING AND HEART DISEASE PREVENTION

If your cholesterol level is normal, have it rechecked at least every 5 years.

If you have high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be checked more often.

Women may do a monthly breast self-exam. However, experts do not agree about the benefits of breast self-exams in finding breast cancer or saving lives. Talk to your provider about what is best for you.

Contact your provider right away if you notice a change in your breasts, whether or not you do self-exams.

Your provider may do a clinical breast exam during your preventive exam. Experts do not agree on the benefit of a breast examination.

MAMMOGRAM

Women up to age 75 should have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years, depending on their risk factors, to check for breast cancer.

Mammogram

A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to find breast tumors and cancer.

Breast cancer

Experts do not agree on the benefits of having a mammogram for women age 75 and older. Some do not recommend having mammograms after this age. Others recommend mammography for women in good health. Talk to your provider about what is best for you.

James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, et al. 2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8). JAMA. 2014;311(5):507-520. PMID: 24352797 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24352797.

Fecal occult blood test - illustration

A fecal occult blood test is a noninvasive test that detects the presence of hidden blood in the stool. Blood in the stool that is not visible is often the first, and in many cases the only, warning sign that a person has colorectal disease, including colon cancer.

Fecal occult blood test

illustration

Fecal occult blood test - illustration

A fecal occult blood test is a noninvasive test that detects the presence of hidden blood in the stool. Blood in the stool that is not visible is often the first, and in many cases the only, warning sign that a person has colorectal disease, including colon cancer.